Radoncic 'Influenced' Kelmendi Witness, Prosecution

Bosnia's State Prosecution said the recently arrested politician Fahrudin Radoncic put pressure on Azra Saric - a witness in the trial of the alleged drugs baron Naser Kelmendi in Kosovo - so that she would give false testimony, which is why it has sought detention for him for one month.

Prosecutor Emir Neradin presented the Court with transcripts of wiretapped conversations, messages and declarations of two witnesses, Bakir Dautbasic and Bilsena Sahman, which he said showed they put pressure on Saric, on Radoncic's orders.

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina says Radoncic must be kept in detention as he might influence witnesses and destroy or hide evidence if left at liberty.

Radoncic, head of the Alliance for a Better Future of Bosnia and Herzegovina, SBBBiH, and a delegate to the House of Peoples in Bosnia's parliament, was arrested on Monday by the State Protection and Investigation Agency, SIPA, accused of having obstructed the work of the judiciary.

Two weeks earlier, Bosnian authorities accused a member of Radoncic's party, Bakir Dautbasic, and his partner, Bilsena Sahman, of the same offence. The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina ordered detention for both of them.

According to the reconstruction made by the Prosecution, Dautbasic and Sahman were in contact with Saric to persuade her to give false witness in Kosovo about the circumstances of the murder of Ramiz Delalic - one of the charges against Kelmendi.

Prosecutors said the couple told Saric not to mention Radoncic during her deposition.

"The boss is asking you to protect Naser as well," Sahman told Saric, according to the Prosecutors.

Saric had to testify by video in December for the Kelmendi trial in Pristina. She said she did not agree to...

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